New Zealand v Pakistan

Toss: New Zealand.

Pakistan burst into the final after an opening stand of 194 between Saeed Anwar and Wajahatullah Wasti, a World Cup first-wicket record. They seemed quite capable of finishing the job undivided until Wasti holed out in the 41st over. Anwar pushed on to a second successive century - his 17th in one-day internationals, equalling Desmond Haynes and behind only Sachin Tendulkar. With Ijaz Ahmed smashing 28 in 21 balls, victory was delayed only by a small pitch invasion, six runs early, which stopped play for ten minutes. Then, when Anwar lofted the ball towards long-off, the crowd could be contained no longer. Twose abandoned an attempt at a running catch as the players raced to safety. Though the two runs required were never actually completed, they were awarded anyway. Ecstatic Pakistani fans let off fireworks and paraded flags, banners and a cardboard cut-out of Nelson Mandela (who had retired from the South African presidency earlier in the day). Officials, who had expected trouble for the India match eight days earlier, lost control when their guard was down. New Zealand captain Fleming called for stricter security, raising the controversial topic of fencing in spectators.

His side had built a decent total of 241, though that owed 47 to extras recklessly scattered by Pakistan. The best stand came from Fleming and Twose, who added 94 before Shoaib Akhtar bowled Fleming with a breathtaking yorker -uprooting his leg stump at 92 mph. Shoaib broke the wicket in each of his three spells, but both captains identified that strike, his second, as the turning point. He showed pace does matter in one-day cricket, Wasim Akram proudly declared.

Man of the Match: Shoaib Akhtar. Attendance: 22,002.